MR. ROBERT CLOSS, CAMBRIA, COLUMBIA, WISCONSIN.
ROBERT CLOSS, farmer, Sec. 11; P. 0. Cambria; was born Feb. 4, 1803, at Llanberis, Carnarvonshire, North Wales; son of Robert and Ellen (Hughes) Closs. (Robert Closs, Sr., was born November 12th, 1766, and Ellen Hughes was born in 1769.)He came to America in 1845, and was married February 10th, 1832, at Llanbeblig Church, near Carnarvonshire, by Rev. Wm. Bailey Williams, to Eleanor Evans, who was born March 10th, 1810, daughter of Evan and Eleanor (Evans) Evans. Eleanor Evans was born near Dinorwig, and died March 20, 1861, on Sec. 11; she had twelve children - Ellen, born Jan. 15, 1833 (and was married February 10th, 1860, by Rev. Grifiith Jones, to Wm. J. Rowland, who died in May, 1864, leaving three children, namely, John C. Rowland, born in 1860, Nellie Rowland, born in 1861, and Mary Rowland, born in 1863 and died in 1864; she was then married, May 1st, 1870, by Rev. Rees Evans, to Robert Thomas, by whom she had one son, Llewellyn; see biography of Robert Thomas; the second daughter, Elizabeth, was born January 18th, 1835, and is home (unmarried); Robert R., born July 28, 1836; John, born Sept. 13, 1838 (married Jane Roberts January 6th, 1871), and living on Sec. 11; Humphrey, born July 20th, 1840 (married Ellen Hughes November 27th, 1867), and living at Blue Springs, Nebraska; Evan, born November 5th, 1842, and died at thirteen weeks of age; Jane, born October 9th, 1845, and died the same year; Ann and Evan, twins, born April 17, 1847, Evan died in 1853, and Ann is now at home (unmarried); Jemina Amelia, born Sept. 16, 1849 (unmarried); Thomas, born December 16th, 1851, and died at nine months of age; Thomas Baldwin, born September 3rd, 1854, and is at home (unmarried).
The Closs estate is very productive and well managed, with one of the finest residences in the town. Mr. Closs was a whole-souled, generous gentleman; had held, at different times, all the offices in town, and some of the time, two or three at once; was a Magistrate before the formation of the town; he had long contemplated publishing a history of the Welsh settlement, which enterprise was necessarily abandoned by reason of his death.
The following notice, from the Wisconsin State Register, dated December 21st, 1872, will be read with interest by surviving friends : "Many will regret to learn of the very sudden death of Robert Closs, Esq., of the town of Springvale, which took place on Sunday, 8th instant. As he was returning home from the afternoon meeting, he was struck with palsy, which terminated his life in less than thirty minutes from the time he first complained.
Mr. Closs and his family emigrated to this country in the summer of 1845, and settled in Springvale in the fall of the same year. He at once took an active part in looking after the welfare of his town, took the lead in its organization, and, undoubtedly, great credit should be given him for the strong Republican opinion formed, especially among the Welsh element therein. He was elected to two, if not three, offices at the first town meeting held in the town, and since, he has filled every office in the town for more or less time, with one exception.
He possessed a great stock of what is called "roundabout common sense." Honesty and integrity were his motives in all his dealings. He shared the sufferings of the pioneer without a murmur, and also greatly enjoyed the many funny incidents of the early settlement. A large circle of friends and acquaintances will greatly miss him. He died in the 69th year of his age, leaving quite a considerable amount of property to a family of grown up children. Peace be to his dust."
Mr. Closs' farm consisted of 600 acres.